Mission Accomplished in Winnipeg

PREMIER'S OFFICE -Mission Accomplished in Winnipeg

The consensus reached in Winnipeg is another positive step in pushing the federal government to properly finance medicare, said Premier John Hamm on Saturday.

The premiers approved communiques reiterating their call for Ottawa to restore the Canada Health and Social Transfer to 1994- 95 levels with an escalator to cover increasing population costs in the future. The premiers also supported the position of the Atlantic provinces to strengthen the equalization program to fulfill its constitutional role of providing comparable public services regardless of where Canadians live.

Following years of cuts from the federal government, Ottawa funds less than 13 per cent of health care costs. When medicare was introduced in the 1960's the federal government paid for half.

"For Canadians, and Nova Scotians, to continue to enjoy the benefits of our public health care system, the federal government has to share in the burden of increasing costs," said Premier Hamm. "Moreover, we also need to ensure that any federal reinvestment in medicare accommodates the health care needs of specific provinces."

The premiers also agreed to Nova Scotia's call for further research into developing a national strategy for health human resource issues. Premier Hamm made a presentation on the subject during Thursday's conference proceedings.

"No matter how much money is invested in health care, a good system needs good people. Most, if not all provinces including Nova Scotia are taking action to improve their abilities to recruit, retain, and retrain health care employees," said the premier. "However, we cannot let our individual efforts become a bidding war which, unless carefully managed, will result in increased costs beyond any of our fiscal capacities."

Progress was also achieved on two of Nova Scotia's leading priorities transportation and infrastructure and greater support for children and families. Premier Hamm said he was pleased that his colleagues continue to recognize the inadequacy of the federal government's response to date to the country's deteriorating transportation system.

"Canada is the only G7 country without a national transportation investment strategy. The United States government is spending $360 billion Canadian over the next six years to upgrade its highway's," added the premier. "Yet the federal government has only committed $600 million over four years beginning in 2002 to address a national problem whose cost is estimated to be $17 billion. In Nova Scotia alone, that means we will get only $5 million back from the $125 million our province's motorists pay in federal fuel tax. Clearly, Ottawa must do more."

The premiers also endorsed Nova Scotia's position favouring the development of an early childhood development plan to be presented to the Prime Minister at the First Minister's Meeting expected to be held next month. Premier Hamm participated in discussions calling for greater support targeted towards young children.